Better known as "Buster," Douglas shocked the boxing world on Feb. 11, 1990, when he knocked out previously unbeaten "Iron" Mike Tyson in the 10th round to win the undisputed heavyweight title.

Douglas was a 42-to-1 underdog that night in Tokyo, Japan, but overcame the incredibly long odds to stage the biggest upset in boxing history.

"After I fought him, it was like a whirlwind," Douglas said during a phone interview from his home in Columbus, Ohio, last week. "I was being pulled in every direction. Everybody wanted a part of me. Everyone asked, 'Who's this guy that could beat the invincible guy?' It was a pretty wild time."

Boxing fans in the Lehigh Valley will get to relive that fight and share other memories with Douglas on Thursday night during a special meet-and-greet before Fight Night at SteelStacks II in Bethlehem. Once again, Larry Holmes, the "Easton Assassin" who held the heavyweight title for 71/2 years, will be the local host and call the fight action on a broadcast with Mike Mittman.

Douglas is looking forward to seeing Holmes. The two never fought, but have shared stories at many events. He's also eager to get a look at Luis Ortiz of Miami, the No. 2-ranked heavyweight who is taking on Rayford Johnson of Texas on Thursday to headline an eight-fight card. The card will also feature Larry Holmes' grandson Jeffrey Dorsey Holmes of Easton taking on Robert James of Ohio.

Fight Night at SteelStacks II will take place inside the Musikfest Café with the opening bell 7 p.m. Thursday.

VIP seats for $120 include balcony level seating and the meet-and-greet with Douglas and Holmes. VIP standing-room-only sell for $100 and include balcony or ring level SRO plus the meet-and-greet.

Ringside seating for rows 1 and 2 is $65, and reserved floor seating (rows 3-8) is $50. General admission SRO is $35. You can purchase tickets online at — http://www.artsquest.org/pages/search.php or at the box office.

The Tyson fight isn't the only battle that Douglas has been able to beat when facing long odds. He lost the title in his first defense — a third round knockout by Evander Holyfield — and ballooned to more than 400 pounds by 1994 when he reportedly went into a diabetic coma. He's been fighting — and winning — that battle ever since.

Douglas said he began to address his diabetes in 1996 after understanding that over-eating, over-drinking, and partying weren't helping his quality of life. He said that his rapid increase in weight during the time period from 1990 to 1994 triggered the diabetes.

"It's been my biggest fight so far," he said. "It's ongoing and something I have to deal with. For the most part, the fight is going pretty well. I have to watch what I eat and stay positive. I take my blood sugar levels and have to battle those numbers."

These days, he's trying to live as healthy a lifestyle as he can despite making promotional appearances at fights all over the country.

He's got four boys, ages 33 to 7, and works with kids on boxing at a Columbus-area gym/recreation center. He said working with kids is one of the best parts of his life. Offering advice, he says, comes with experience and the motivation brought by achieving a goal.

His goal of becoming heavyweight champion reached its zenith against Tyson. Douglas was such a decided underdog in that fight that only one Las Vegas sports book posted odds for it.

What the world didn't know more than 23 years ago was the motivation Douglas had going into that fight.

Douglas' mom died 23 days before the fight, and he promised his mom he would win the title. He delivered by using a left jab and a punishing right to close Tyson's left eye by the fifth round. In survival mode, Tyson knocked down Douglas with a right uppercut in the eighth round. Douglas got off the canvas in time, and pummeled Tyson in the ninth round before scoring the knockout in the 10th, with Tyson slowly trying to find his mouthpiece and putting it in while he was counted out.

"When I see someone do an incredible feat, it just brings me back to my moment when I beat Tyson," Douglas said. "The determination and the will to accomplish that, it's about really believing in yourself first and foremost. I know that feeling.

"Diabetes is a terrible disease and can be depressing at times, but I look to my wife and my kids for inspiration to continue the fight."